"As long as he is fit, I will pick him": Jorge Jesus throws support behind Cristiano Ronaldo

ANI
14 Jul 2026, 02:29 GMT+10

Lisbon [Portugal], July 13 (ANI): Portugal head coach Jorge Jesus reaffirmed his faith in football icon Cristiano Ronaldo, saying the veteran forward will continue to be selected for the national team as long as he remains active and fit, with his inclusion always based on what is best for the team.

The 71-year-old manager, who has signed a four-year contract to guide Portugal through the 2030 World Cup, believes Cristiano Ronaldo still has a significant role to play on the international stage despite his advancing years.

'As long as he's playing and is in a condition to be selected, I will pick him, within certain limits and under the conditions that I consider best for the national team,' Jorge Jesus said as per Goal.com.

Jesus praised Ronaldo's professionalism, saying the forward will never be a problem for Portugal or for him as a coach. He added that he enjoyed working with Ronaldo over the past year and found him easy to manage.

'I haven't spoken with [Ronaldo] yet. [He] is never going to be a problem for the national team. Not for the national team, nor for me. I had great pleasure working with him this past year, it's easy to work with him,' Jesus said.

The appointment of Jesus marks a significant shift for Portugal following their disappointing exit from the 2026 World Cup.

Portugal were knocked out in the round of 16 after a 1-0 defeat to Spain, a result that led Roberto Martinez to step down as head coach. (ANI)

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